Maysville residents grill data center developers on plans
Developers of an AI data center in Maysville, Georgia, presented their plans to residents, addressing concerns about water use, noise, and environmental impact. The project, led by RUM Group and Northern Data, has a conditional use permit and plans to offer $15 million in community funding and generate substantial annual taxes for the town and Jackson County.
Developers John Hoffman and Tyler Hughes of RUM Group and Northern Data addressed Maysville, Georgia residents regarding their proposed AI data center. The companies, which have a conditional use permit for two 125,000-square-foot buildings in Maysville's industrial park, plan to begin construction pending building permit approval and expect to be operational within 12 months.
During a two-hour community meeting at the Jackson County Agriculture Facility, the developers outlined their plans, including a commitment to provide $15 million in funding to the town for community projects through a legally binding "community benefit agreement," and a projected $20 million annually in taxes for Maysville, Jackson County, and the Jackson County School System.
Residents raised concerns about water usage, noise, and environmental impacts. Hoffman and Hughes explained that the facility would use a closed-loop cooling system, filled once with water, and would not rely on municipal water or onsite wells for cooling. They also noted that Maysville was selected due to its industrial zoning and proximity to a Georgia Power substation. The company stated it operates 10 data centers globally, with this being its first utilizing the closed-loop system, and committed to further study and report back on leak handling.